Newport flooding problem has few solutions for now

City says fixing problem will not be quick or simple

Some haven't slept most of the week, some have lost treasured possessions, some have recorded video laced with a healthy dose of sarcastic comment.

That's the kind of waterlogged week it has been along a stretch of Riddle Place at the south end of Newport.

"This is the waterfalls coming from the sanitation sewer district down to my property on 345 Riddle Place", Barbara Baggs says as she records the second flooding of her basement this week. "It's July 4th. I don't think there's going to be any fireworks going off here."

"It's like a miniature Niagara Falls when it starts going", she told WLWT News 5's John London. "It's supposed to drain into the sewer, but it doesn't."

A few doors down, Debbie Onufer is salvaging a some of her granddaughter's toys.She's lost a garage door, a furnace, a washer, her air conditioner, a pool table and a storage cabinet, all from the heavy run-off on Monday and last night.

"So, we got three places. And I know part of it is the rain, I get it. I know all of this, I know it's an overflow and stuff like that, but there has to be a solution," she said.

If there is one, it will have to come from Sanitation District No. 1. Years ago, the city of Newport simply didn't have the funding to maintain the sewer system. With federal assistance, the district took it on.

But no quick or simple fix is likely.

"Any improvements to resize the storm sewers would require easements and would be a lengthy process," said Doug Roell, who is Newport's Community Services Director.

He figures the storm sewers were simply overtaxed by the heavy rain in a short period of time this week. With the ground already saturated, the system couldn't handle it.

Sarah Timmerman took photos of the damage to her place. She and Brian Lalley are artists and stored many of their supplies in the basement.

They moved in a month ago.

"That refrigerator was floating around in our basement Monday night on its side," Lalley said.

Most of their clothing is ruined, many of their children's toys as well.

Riddle Place sits up on a hill. You wouldn't think of it as flood prone. Some residents carry flood insurance, but many others do not.

Roell said one of the hard lessons of an experience like this is that flooding can occur even if you live on elevated land or away from a river.

The city of Newport indicates it would partner with the sanitation district if a work project is developed to address the problem. It is not known if a plan to upgrade the drainage system is in the cards or not.

Meanwhile, frustrated residents, soaked with the sweat of this ordeal, are getting rid of their ruined possessions and trying to dry out their basements before any more rain occurs.

"Right now, I'm ready to dry it out and stick a 'For Sale' sign on it," Baggs said.